Low-profile folding chock

ABSTRACT

A folding chock for recreational boats and the like has a flush-mounted body member, a foldable chock member and a detent mechanism. The flush-mounted body member has facilities for mounting on an associated boat surface, requiring only screw-diameter holes drilled in the boat surface. The foldable chock member lies flat when not in use, and upright when extended for holding a rope. A detent mechanism keeps the foldable chock member in either the extended or retracted position until it is changed by a force exerted on the foldable chock member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to U.S. patent application titled, “Low-profile Folding Push-Pole Holders,” attorney reference number 2620.21, inventor Bernd Czipri, filed even date here within.

FIELD

This invention relates to chocks for boats and more particularly to low-profile folding chock.

BACKGROUND

Retractable cleats and other similar devices are widely used within boats for securing mooring lines and the like thereto. These retractable cleats typically include a base member, and a retractable cleat member that is telescopingly received within the interior of the base.

Heretofore, these devices have generally been constructed such that the mounting post portion of the retractable cleat passes downwardly, requiring substantial holes to be drilled/cut into the surface (e.g. gunnels) of the boat. These holes create a larger area for water seepage into the hull of the boat, even though proper sealing (e.g. gaskets) precautions are taken. Further adding to this, the area where the cleat is stored when in the retracted position provides for a funnel into which water collects, requiring very good sealing between the shafts of these devices and the framework. Often, boat owners do not want to drill/cut such large holes into the gunnels of their boat in case they wish to relocate the device to a different location. One would appreciate that filling and finishing a few small screw holes in a fiberglass gunnel is easier to perform than one large hole and a few small screw holes.

What is needed is a low profile folding chock that requires minimal drilling into the gunnels of a boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a folding chock that includes a base member and a folding chock member. The base member has a bottom surface to be mounted on an associated boat surface, optionally, one or more screw holes for attachment to the boat and a cavity for accepting a chock member. The folding chock member hingedly attaches to the base member and swings upwardly into an extended position to hold a rope (e.g. anchor line) and swings downwardly into a retracted position, substantially flush in the cavity.

In one embodiment, a folding chock for a boat is disclosed including a flush mounted body member with a chock member hingedly coupled to the flush mounted body member. A detent mechanism holds the chock member either in an extended position or in a retracted position until changed by an outside force.

In another embodiment, a folding chock for a boat is disclosed including a flush mounted body member that has a way to attach to a surface of a boat and a chock member for holding a pole. The chock member is hinged to the flush mounted body member such that the chock member does not require holes to be cut in the surface of the boat for allowing the chock member to extend and retract. The chock member in held by a device for holding, and is held either an extended position or in a retracted position, until changed by an outside force.

In another embodiment, a folding chock for a boat is disclosed including a flush mounted body member that has a generally D-shaped central opening. One side of the D-shaped opening is substantially flat. The flush mounted body member has hinge cavities at each end of the substantially flat side. A chock member has a linear edge with hinge pins at each end of the linear edge for interfacing with the flush mounted body member. The hinge pins are held in cavities within the flush mounted body member allowing for hinged operation of the chock member. One or more longitudinal grooves are cut/formed in the chock member. A detent mechanism has a detent member that is urged into one of the longitudinal grooves when the chock member is rotated about the hinge pins and one of the longitudinal grooves faces the detent mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a folding hook of a first embodiment in the open position.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a folding hook member of a first embodiment in the closed position.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the folding hook of a first embodiment in the opened position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a chock member of a second embodiment in the open position.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a chock member of a second embodiment in the closed position.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view from the top of a folding chock of the second embodiment, a folding chock member ready to be inserted into the base member.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view from the bottom of the folding chock of the second embodiment with the folding chock member ready to be inserted into the base member.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the folding chock of an alternate mounting arrangement in a retracted position.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the folding chock of an alternate mounting arrangement mounted to a gunnel of a boat.

FIG. 10 illustrates a plan view of a typical boat showing side views of multiple folding hooks in a retracted position.

FIG. 11 illustrates a plan view of a typical boat showing side views of multiple folding hooks in an extended position.

FIG. 12 illustrates a plan view of the typical boat showing a side view of the folding chock mounted to the gunnel and positioned in an extended position is shown.

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of one of the folding chock holding a rope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, perspective views of a flush-mounted, folding hook 10 of a first embodiment is shown extended (FIG. 1) and retracted (FIG. 2). The folding hook 10 includes a hook member 12 for holding a pole such as a push pole 50 (see FIG. 11) as used to navigate flats boats. The folding hook 10 has a hinge pin 14 to hingedly interface the hook member 12 to flush-mounted body member 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the folding hook 10 has a low-profile when the hook member 12 is retracted. In some embodiments, holes or countersunk holes 15 are provided for mounting to the gunnel 62 of a boat 60 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). Since the screws are the only part of the folding hook 10 that go through a surface of the boat, the structure of the boat isn't impacted and, if the folding hook 10 is later removed, there is minimal repair work required to fill the holes.

The longitudinal grooves 11 are described later.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the folding hook 10 of a first embodiment in the opened position is shown. The hook member 12 hinges to the body member 18 by, for example, a pin 14 that passes through a first hole 17 in the flush-mounted body member 18, through a longitudinal bore 13 in the hook member 12 and threads into a threaded hole 19 in the opposite side of the flush-mounted body member 18. This construction is provided as an example of hingedly mounting the hook member 12 to the flush-mounted body member 18. Other constructs with other hinge mechanisms are known, all of which are included here within.

To maintain the hook member 12 in either the opened position (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) or in the closed position (as shown in FIG. 2), a detent mechanism is provided. There are many known detent mechanisms known in the industry, including the example shown in FIG. 3. In this, the hinge member 12 has longitudinal grooves 11 (see FIG. 2) that interfaces with spring loaded balls 6, such that when the hook member 12 is in the desired position, the springs 7 push the balls 6 into the longitudinal grooves 11 to hold the hook member 12 in position. In the embodiment shown, the balls 6 and spring members 7 are held in cavities 5 formed in the flush-mounted body member 18 by a plate 8 that is screwed into the body member 18 by one or more screws 9. It is anticipated that any number of balls 6 and springs 7 be provided, including a single ball 6 and spring 7.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a perspective view of a folding chock 20 of a second embodiment is shown. The flush-mount, folding chock 20 includes a chock member 32 that has two opposing edges 22/24 for holding a rope 70 (see FIG. 13) such as an anchor rope. As with existing, fixed chocks, the opposing edges 22/24 are angled to allow for placing the rope 70 into the folding chock 20 by angling the rope at the same angle as the edges 22/24, but resists releasing the rope 70 when the rope is at a different angle. The chock member 32 has hinge pins 26 for hingedly interfacing the chock member 32 with the flush-mounted body member 38. In some embodiments, holes or countersunk holes 15 are provided for mounting to the gunnel 62 of a boat 60 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). In this example, the flush-mounted body member 38 is affixed to gunnel 62 (or other location) of the boat 60 with screws or other fasteners (not shown) passing into holes 15. Since the screws are the only part of the flush-mount folding chock 20 that go through a surface of the boat 60, the structure of the boat 60 isn't impacted and, if the flush-mount folding chock 20 is later removed, there is minimal repair work required to fill the holes.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, exploded views of the folding chock 20 of the second embodiment shown from the top (FIG. 6) and bottom (FIG. 7). The chock member 32 is shown ready to be inserted into the body member 38. The chock member 32 hinges to the flush-mounted body member 38 by, for example, pins 34 that interface with cavities 35 in the flush-mounted body member 38. The pins 34 are then held within the cavities 35 by plates 3, the plates being fastened to the flush-mounted body member 38 by screws 9 that screw into holes 3. This construction is provided as an example of hingedly mounting the chock member 32 to the flush-mounted body member 38. Other constructs with other hinge mechanisms are known, all of which are included here within.

To maintain the chock member 32 in either the opened position (as shown in FIG. 4) or in the closed position (as shown in FIG. 5), a detent mechanism is provided. There are many known detent mechanisms known in the industry, including the example shown in FIG. 6. In this, the chock member 32 has longitudinal grooves 11 that interface with spring loaded balls 6, such that when the chock member 32 is in the desired position, the springs 7 push the balls 6 into the longitudinal grooves 11 to hold the chock member 32 in position. In the embodiment shown, the balls 6 and spring members 7 are held in cavities 5 formed in the body member 38 by plates 8. The plates 8 are held to the flush-mounted body member 38 by one or more screws 9 screwed into holes 2. It is anticipated that any number of balls 6 and springs 7 be provided, including a single ball 6 and spring 7.

In some embodiments, a drain opening or gap 40 is provided in the flush-mounted body member 38 to provide drainage and drying of any moisture, should moisture or water seep underneath the flush-mounted body member 38.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a perspective view of the folding chock 20 of an alternate mounting arrangement is shown in a retracted position (FIG. 8) and mounted to a boat (FIG. 9). In this arrangement, bolts 45 are formed on the bottom surface of the flush-mounted body member 38, thereby eliminating the need for separate mounting screws and producing a better looking surface for the flush-mounted body member 38. The bolts 45 pass through holes in the gunnel 62 or other location of a boat 60 and are secured from beneath with, for example, bolts 46.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, plan views of a typical boat showing side views of multiple folding hooks 10 with the hook member 12 in a retracted position (FIG. 10) and extended position (FIG. 11) are shown. The folding hooks are mounted on, in this example, the gunnel 62 of the boat 60. It is preferred that the hook member 12 alternate in direction as shown (port/starboard in this example) so that the push pole 50 is held securely between the hook members 12 of the folding hooks 10. The body member 18 is affixed to the gunnel 62 either by screws through holes 15 (as in FIGS. 1-3) or by bolts 45 formed in the bottom of the body member 18 (as in FIGS. 8-9).

Referring to FIG. 12, a plan view of the typical boat 60 showing a side view of the folding chock 20 mounted to the gunnel 62 and positioned in an extended position is shown. The flush-mounted body member 38 is affixed to the gunnel 62 either by screws through holes 15 (as in FIGS. 4-7) or by bolts formed in the bottom of the body member 38 (as in FIGS. 8-9).

Referring to FIG. 13, a perspective view of the folding chock 20 holding a rope 70 is shown. In this mode, the rope 70 opposes the angle of the edges 22/24 and, therefore, when taught, will not exit the chock 20. The rope 70 is removed from the folding chock 20 when it is not taught by angling the rope 70 to align with the edges 22/24, in which position, the rope 70 fits easily between the edges 22/24.

Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.

It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. 

1. A folding chock for a boat, the folding chock comprising: a flush mounted body member; a chock member hingedly coupled to the flush mounted body member; and a detent, the detent holding the chock member either in an extended position or in a retracted position until changed by an outside force.
 2. The folding chock of claim 1, wherein the flush mounted body member is affixed to the boat by a plurality of screws, the screws passing through the flush mounted body and into a surface of the boat.
 3. The folding chock of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member has a plurality of threaded studs and the flush mounted body member is affixed to the boat by the threaded studs passing through a surface of the boat and the threaded studs are held in place by a plurality of nuts.
 4. The folding chock of claim 1, wherein the detent comprises one or more spring loaded balls, the spring loaded balls urged into longitudinal grooves formed in the hook member.
 5. The folding chock of claim 4, wherein the one or more spring loaded balls are held within cavities of the flush mounted body member by cover plates that are held to a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member by screws.
 6. The folding chock of claim 1, wherein the a chock member is hingedly coupled to the flush mounted body member by pins, the pin formed at distal ends of the chock member and the pins held in mating cavities of the flush mounted body member by plates and screws.
 7. A folding chock for a boat, the folding chock comprising: a flush mounted body member having a means for attaching to a surface of a boat; a chock member; a means for hingedly interfacing the chock member to the flush mounted body member whereby the chock member does not require holes to be cut in the surface of the boat for allowing the chock member to extend and retract; and a means for holding the chock member in either an extended position or in a retracted position until changed by an outside force.
 8. The folding chock of claim 7, further comprising a means for mounting the flush mounted body member to the surface of the boat.
 9. The folding chock of claim 8, wherein the means for mounting is a plurality of screws, the screws passing through the flush mounted body and into a surface of the boat.
 10. The folding chock of claim 8, wherein the means for mounting includes a plurality of threaded studs extending from a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member and the threaded studs pass through the surface of the boat and the threaded studs are held in place by a plurality of nuts.
 11. The folding chock of claim 7, wherein the means for holding is a detent mechanism, the detent mechanism comprising one or more spring loaded balls, the spring loaded balls urged into longitudinal grooves formed in the chock member.
 12. The folding chock of claim 11, wherein the one or more spring loaded balls are held within cavities of the flush mounted body member by cover plates that are held to a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member by screws.
 13. The folding chock of claim 7, wherein the means for hingedly interfacing includes pins formed at distal ends of the chock member, the pins hingedly held in mating cavities of the flush mounted body member by plates and screws.
 14. A folding chock for a boat, the folding chock comprising: a flush mounted body member having a generally D-shaped central opening, one side of the central opening being substantially flat, the flush mounted body member having hinge holes near distal ends of the substantially flat side; a chock member having a linear edge for interfacing with the flush mounted body member, the chock member has pins at each end of the linear edge and one or more longitudinal grooves; a means for rotatably holding the pins to the flush mounted body member, the means for rotatably holding enabling the chock member to fold from an extended position to a retracted position; and a detent mechanism in the flush mounted body member, the detent mechanism having a detent member that is urged into one of the longitudinal grooves when the chock member is rotated about the hinge pin and the one of the longitudinal grooves faces the detent mechanism.
 15. The folding chock of claim 14, wherein the flush mounted body member has a plurality of mounting holes and the flush mounted body member is affixed to the boat by a plurality of screws, the screws passing through the mounting holes and into a surface of the boat.
 16. The folding chock of claim 14, wherein a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member has a plurality of threaded studs and the flush mounted body member is affixed to the boat by the threaded studs passing through a surface of the boat and the threaded studs are held in place by a plurality of nuts.
 17. The folding chock of claim 14, wherein the detent mechanism comprises one or more balls, the balls being biased by springs, the balls urged into longitudinal grooves by the springs.
 18. The folding chock of claim 17, wherein the one or balls and springs are held within cavities of the flush mounted body member by cover plates that are held to a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member by screws. 